Magnum P.I. Season 1 Episode 5 Review: Sudden Death
Lisa Babick
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All's well that ends well.
TC and Magnum had a little hiccup in their relationship when they couldn't agree on the guilt or innocence of Hani, but it all worked out on Magnum P.I. Season 1 Episode 5, just as we knew it would.
TC was certain Hani was innocent, and in the process, we learned quite a bit of information about TC's past -- some of which even surprised Rick and Magnum.
It has to be hard on a young kid when a parent goes to jail, and it's understandable why TC lied about his dad going to jail. It was that experience that made him so desperate to prove Hani's innocence.
He wanted to spare Mack of having to experience the pain, shame, and desperation of what he did when he was a boy.
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Magnum tried his best, but every lead he followed only seem to point to Hani's guilt, and that didn't bode well with TC.
He was upset when Magnum turned the answering machine tape over to Det. Katsumoto. He thought Magnum should have made it disappear when audio showed up that implicated Hani, but Magnum wanted to do the right thing.
He didn't want to risk losing his license and that idea was completely unacceptable to TC.
Magnum doesn't always follow the rules, so it was surprising that he did decide to give Katsumoto the tape when he could have as easily destroyed it.
Related: Magnum P.I. Review Season 1 Episode 4 Review: Six Paintings, One Frame
It's hard to believe that Magnum would put duty (and his license) above friendship, but he took the unexpected road, and it almost cost him a friend.
Would Magnum have been able to live with himself if that had happened?
It was obvious that Magnum was bothered by turning the tape over and while it caused a strain with his buddy, it more than likely put a plus in his column with Katsumoto.
Still, Katsumoto over TC? I think not.
You'll come to discover that Mr. Magnum generally succeeds at what he sets out to do.
Higgins
The tape wasn't critical evidence for a conviction since the cops already had what they needed with the gun so TC's request to get rid of the tape wasn't out of line.
Magnum made a bad choice, and it's something that TC may keep tucked in the back of his mind. I know I would.
When Magnum had a hunch about Mason's wife, he went to TC with his tail between his legs because he needed TC's help to get to her
TC could have told Magnum where to go, but his main concern was always about Hani and Mack which is why he agreed to help Magnum, and this final lead ended up proving what TC knew all along -- that Hani was innocent.
Higgins faith in Magnum never wavered. She didn't know about the drama happening between TC and Magnum, but she did a fine job assuring Mack that Magnum was his white knight and would take care of everything.
While Magnum was the one who solved the case, TC was the real hero because he never gave up even when he didn't have the resources or knowledge that Magnum did.
It's too bad Higgins didn't know that truth so she could have shared it with Mack, but the kid definitely knew that TC had a huge hand in making sure that his dad would get back to him.
And what an experience for Mack to be hanging out with two badass ladies like Higgins and Kumu!
Higgins wasn't too keen on having to take care of Mack, but she'd do anything to help Magnum (and be part of the case anyway she could), and spending time with Mack was as an enriching experience for her as it was for him.
Not only was she able to teach him about chess and in turn learn about football strategy, but she also surprised herself at how protective she was when child welfare showed up at the gate.
She had formed a bond with Mack, and she wasn't about to let anyone take him away. Besides, she would never allow anything to happen that would even remotely disappoint Magnum.
And I know I end up on this thread every week, but the chemistry between Higgins and Magnum is undeniable. The look they gave each other when Hani and Mack were reunited was intense.
If they would've lingered on each other any longer, I would've burst into flames from the heat.
Some final thoughts:
- I loved Cyndi Lauper as Vanessa, but am sorely disappointed that her appearance was so short. I'd love to see her reprise her role in a future episode.
- Kumu's reaction at getting caught in a lie with the child welfare people was priceless. We need more Kumu! Now!
- Now that we delved a bit into TC, it's time to find out more about Rick. What kind of secrets is he hiding behind his incessant use of humor?!
Over to you!
What did you think of "Sudden Death"?
Did Magnum make the right choice turning the tape over to Katsumoto?
How much do you love Kumu?!
Hit the comments and share your thoughts!
If you need to catch up, you can watch Magnum P.I. online right here via TV Fanatic!
